Sampling Procedures

To obtain a sample, we suggest the following guidelines:

• Take samples at or during hay harvest or delivery. Once hay is stacked inside a barn, it is difficult to obtain a representative sample. For small rectangular bales, set aside three or four bales from each load. These bales can then be grouped and sampled by lot at a later time. Large bales can be sampled in the field prior to removal.
• Use a hay core sampler, probe or punch designed specifically for sampling hay. Many county extension offices and farm supply dealers have samplers available for loan. Grab samplings of hay in which fistfuls of hay are pulled from bales is not recommended. Neither is submitting flake samples from rectangular bales. Both can give erroneous results.
• For rectangular bales (large or small) collect samples by inserting the sampler probe 12 – 16″ into the center of the bale at either end. This allows the probe to pass through several bale flakes as it “cores” out the sample. For large round bales, the probe should be inserted 16″ – 20″through the side of the bale where several layers of hay are penetrated.
• Collect samples from 15-20 small rectangular bales or from 8-12 large round or rectangular bales.
• Hay should be free of excess moisture from dew or rainfall before sampling.
• Core samples from each lot of hay should be mixed together and placed in a bag where it can be sealed tightly.

Soil Testing

The soil testing process consists of the following components: Sampling – Sample Preparation – Nutrient Extraction and Chemical Determination of these Nutrients – Determination of pH and Quantity of Soil Acidity, and – Evaluation of the Tests – Resulting in fertilizer and lime recommendations. Each of these components play an important role in obtaining an accurate and useful soil test.

How to Take Sample for Testing

A soil sample should be representative of the soil in the field, or area, wishing to be tested.  A sample should represent no more than 20 acres. To obtain samples that represent this size or smaller, partition fields into areas based on past management, surface color, texture, and slope.   After determining the area to be tested, take 10 to 20 soil cores across the area at a depth of 6–8 inches.  Place the soil cores into a clean plastic bucket, break apart the cores and clods, and mix them together.  From this mixture, fill a clean soil sample box or bag with approximately a two cup size. Identify the sample by a number or name on the sample container. If the sample is not taken to Custom Laboratory on the day it is collected, place it in a dust free location with the container open to allow drying of the sample.